1/30/17

Regarding anti-communism reaching its zenith in the 1950s. What remenants remain to today amongst evangelicals?

Fears of the Soviet Union and anger over Korea inspired evangelicals to enlist in the growing anticommunist movement. The NAE [National Association of Evangelicals] instructed laypeople to watch for signs of subversion, boycott leftist entertainers join anticommunist groups, and vote for conservative candidates. Many evangelicals supported leading anticommunist rabble-rousers such as Australian evangelical Fred C. Schwartz. His wildly popular Christian Anti-Communist Crusade attracted hundreds of thousands of followers who praised its blend of faith and politics. He told all who would listen, "I believe in God and His love, Christ and His redemption, and the great commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel. These two facts have motivated me to do everything within my power to stay the advance of communism." Others still praised the House Un-American Activities Committee and men like Senators Joseph McCarthy and Richard Nixon for their efforts to root out subversives. 'While nobody likes a watchdog," Graham [Billy] acknowledged, "I thank God for men who, in the face of public denouncement and ridicule, go loyally on in their work of exposing the pinks, the lavenders, and the reds who have sought refuge beneath the wings of the American eagle." Like his predecessors, Graham worried as much about subversive within as enemies without, which encouraged evangelicals' besiegement mentality. The faithful hoped that as the United States executed an aggressive, Cold War foreign policy, some of their own would play leading roles. Ockenga [Harold John], called on fellow believers to get involved "in world leadership, Evangelicals" he emphasized "should be thrust into political, diplomatic military posts of responsibility and leadership." For the next few generations, evangelicals would make this call a reality by assuming important posts in Washington and around the globe.

American Apocalypse, Mathew A. Sutton, Belknap Press, 1014, pg. 313-4

1/30/17

What is the full discussion around Pro-Life?

I do not believe that just because you're opposed to abortion, that that makes you Pro-Life. In fact, in many cases, your morality is deeply lacking if all want is a child born but not a child fed, not a child educated, not a child housed. And why would I think that you don't? Because you don't want tax money to go there. That's not Pro-Life. That's Pro-Birth. We need a much broader conversation on what the morality of Pro-Life is.